October 20, 2010

Live blog: Quinn, Brady governor debate

Live blog by Tribune staff (read our traditional print story by clicking here.)

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican foe Bill Brady are debating tonight in Chicago. The Tribune is watching online and in person and live blogging the event, which can be watched at 10:35 p.m. tonight on WLS-Ch. 7.

*Brady went after Quinn in his opening statement, attacking him for supporting tax increases and for twice running with impeached ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"Illinois needs a leader. Pat Quinn has proven he's not up to the job," Brady said.

*The live feed went out during Quinn's opening statement.

*Quinn says he has cut the budget and not in a "reckless" way like Brady would if he's elected.

"I have a specific plan to cut the budget," Quinn said. "I don't want to lose a generation of children in Illinois....That's the wrong and reckless way to go."

*Brady once again used his line about Quinn running a "secret" administration with staff pay raises and a much-criticized prisoner early release program.

*Quinn claimed Brady voted against a bill that would have barred spouse abusers from having guns. Do not have a bill number to verify at this point.

*Quinn pointed out that he's cut his own pay as governor (he has worked through unpaid days off and sent a check to the comptroller). Replied Brady: "Gov. Quinn talks about cutting his pay but he gave pay raises to his inner circle staff."

*Quinn says Brady's education cuts would result in school districts raising local property taxes to make up the difference, should Brady "perish the thought," become governor.

*Brady asked what he would tell voters who find him too conservative. Brady opposes abortion rights and gay marriage and generally is against gun restrictions.

"Unlike Pat Quinn I am not using them to divide Illinois," Brady said. Brady went on to say the election is about creating jobs and the economy, not social issues.

*Quinn accused Brady of wanting a constitutional amendment to ban abortions, including in cases of rape and incest. Brady responded that courts already have ruled as abortion (to indicate that as governor he wouldn't be able to overturn that).

*So far, the candidates are sticking to their campaign messages. Quinn is trying to paint Brady as extreme on social issues and his approach to budget cuts. Brady is telling viewers that Quinn has failed his job audition since he took over for Blagojevich in late January 2009.

"We can't afford a governor who won't stand up and lead," Brady said.

*Quinn's campaign is sending out e-mails with information to back up the governor's points tonight. Nothing so far from the Brady camp.

*Quinn just blamed President George W. Bush's "failed economic policies" for the budget mess he inherited. Not his predecessor Blagojevich or the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

*Brady asked to cite his three most important legislative accomplishments in his 17 years. It's a question Brady initially had trouble with during a meeting with the Tribune editorial board.

Tonight, Brady is talking about teacher health insurance, banking regulation and helping get money for Heartland Community College in his district.

*Quinn just called Brady a "career politician." Quinn, however, has been on and off government payrolls for the past 40 years, serving as a tax commissioner, treasurer, lieutenant governor, and working for Democratic Gov. Dan Walker and Chicago Mayor Harold Washington.

*Quinn asked why he deserves a full term. Quinn said he's got a plan for the budget and investing in schools. Repeated his line about Brady's approach leading to property tax increases.

"If the viewers are happy with the way things are going, elect Pat Quinn," Brady said. "He's failed to meet the objectives the state needs to meet."

*They're now talking about government transparency. Somehow it led back to Quinn saying Brady would raise the state's budget debt.

*Brady said he will cut the budget in "a broad way." This is true. Brady has not offered specifics on how he would cut the state budget, saying he'll need audits after he's elected to determine what should be cut.

*It's 7:30. About halfway there. Probably more if they have closing statements.

*Brady said Quinn is for special interests and not the public interests. Quinn said pretty much the same thing about Brady.

*Quinn again went back to the property tax attack on Brady. "He wants to raise your property taxes and I think that's a (bum, dumb?) idea," Quinn said.

Brady pointed out that Quinn's budget proposal this year would have cut education by $1 billion. Quinn unveiled that budget, telling lawmakers he'd do it if they didn't raise the income tax.

*Quinn asked about his TV ad that cites the Tribune's story about Brady voting on bills that impacted his real estate interests. You can read that story by clicking here.

Brady questioned Quinn's "secret" deal with a large state worker union to prevent layoffs in return for delayed pay increases. The union later endorsed Quinn. Then Brady said the record doesn't reflect a conflict of interest. "I'm above that," Brady said.

*Quinn has ripped Brady twice for not going to a campaign forum sponsored by an African-American advocacy group. Brady said he stood up in support of Wal-Marts in African-American neighborhoods in Chicago.

*And now Quinn is talking about the Arizona anti-immigration law that he opposes. Quinn accused Brady of having no position on it.

*Pension reform: Candidates asked about cutting costs for current employees, not just future ones. Brady says Quinn has worsened pension hole. Quinn says Brady was in the General Assembly when this was going on. "Now he's pointing fingers at me," Quinn said of Brady.

*Ethics reform: Candidates asked about reducing influence of money in politics. Quinn talks about his petition drive to reduce size of legislature (critics say it concentrated power even more in the hands of the four legislative leaders). Quinn says recall. Brady said Quinn "didn't even have the backbone" to stand up to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton to get a vote on Quinn's own commission's reform package.

"You backed down into the corner and were left with nothing," Brady said.

*Budget: Quinn talked about his tax hike proposal as an "education surcharge," which allows him to not say the words "tax increase" on tape. Brady said "I've made it very clear: no new taxes."

*Each candidate has hit their well-worn lines in tonight's debate. Quinn just talked about Illinois needing a governor "who has a heart."

*Brady closing statement: Illinois is a crossroads, but we need new leadership. Quinn has run state into the ground the past two years. Jobs lost. If you want to continue down that path, vote for Pat Quinn. If you want a difference, lower taxes and more jobs, vote Brady.

*Quinn closing statement: He stabilized government on ethics when he took over. Blamed Bush killing economy. Said he's creating jobs. Important to have a governor with a heart.

*Check back later tonight. We'll post a traditional news story on the debate. Might include some post-game spin room fodder too.

***

Posted by Ray Long earlier today:

Gov. Pat Quinn today offered a preview of one of the points he plans to bring up at tonight's governor debate.

The Democratic governor criticized Republican opponent Sen. Bill Brady for talking up state programs to build schools, roads and other public works projects but voting against the way to pay for them.

Quinn and lawmakers approved raising new funds by legalizing video poker, raising fees on motorists and increasing taxes on items like candy, beauty products and booze.

"There are folks in life, they're always there to eat dessert, but they don't eat their vegetables," Quinn said. "I think it's important to have governors who know what spinach is and what carrots are. Eat your vegetables before you dig in and have ice creams fudge sundaes."

Quinn said he plans to drive that point home at tonight's debate on WLS-TV that will be streamed live on their web site at 7 p.m. and aired tonight at 10:35 p.m.

Brady's campaign has long said the senator voted against raising money through legalizing video poker in restaurants and truck stops, a move he considers a major expansion of gambling. Brady also has maintained video poker revenues would fall short of the millions of dollars now projected to help pay for the projects.

Quinn said schoolchildren at Alex Haley Academy on the Southwest Side need sturdy schools to build their own education. He touted a $270 million program to build, expand or repair schools, including millions for Haley and other schools in Chicago.

Quinn dismissed the notion that he was engaging in a political stunt by making a political-style announcement about distributing taxpayer dollars at a predominantly African-American neighborhood school because he badly needs to galvanize votes in that traditionally Democratic part of Chicago.

He told more than 40 pupils dressed in white shirts and navy pants that he wanted one of them to be governor one day, saying he won't be governor "forever." He shook their hands one-by-one. Soon he'll learn if his career in the state's top post will be extended for four more years or be over at the end of his current term.

The Brady campaign, meanwhile, is attempting to rally troops and raise money by noting how Quinn repeatedly has attacked Brady about the senator's introduction of a bill that would let veterinarians euthanize groups of dogs and cats, an idea brought up by one of the senator's local veterinarians.

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

Past posts

Clout has a special meaning in Chicago, where it can be a noun, a verb or an adjective. This exercise of political influence in a uniquely Chicago style was chronicled in the Tribune cartoon "Clout Street" in the early 1980s. Clout Street, the blog, offers an inside look at the politics practiced from Chicago's City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, through the eyes of the Tribune's political and government reporters.